Great Valley board talks numbers as budget deadline nears

The Great Valley School Board covered a wide range of financial matters at its meeting last week.

The board accepted the low bid of $415,074 from Jottan Inc. for the reroofing of General Wayne Elementary School, an amount some $104,000 less than the highest of the four bids received.

The board also agreed to a low bid of $85,748 from Clark Contractors Inc. to replace boiler piping in the district’s administration building.

In approving the Chester County Intermediate Unit budget for 2013-14, Great Valley’s occupational education contribution dropped $79,654 over this school year to $751,118. For the second straight year, the district’s core contribution will be $41,546.

Superintendent Alan Lonoconus gave another presentation to update the status of the 2013-14 budget. With no changes since the previous meeting, the district expects to use $2.25 million in reserves, including $1.5 million in pension reserves and $750,000 from general.

The board discussed the district’s total reserves, which currently sit at $18.6 million, up from $11.3 million four years ago.

In 2010, there was $900,000 in savings resulting from the board’s decision to stop spending mid-year. In 2011, the district received unanticipated revenue from Wegmans and Target construction, started self-funded health care, refinanced debts and decreased retirement contributions.

In 2012, the district got unexpected revenue from reduced social security contributions and an increase in state subsidy. Revenues have climbed this year with new housing sales, construction and increased collection from real estate taxes.

The final budget will be made available for inspection at the board’s May 13 work session, 20 days before scheduled adoption on June 3.

The death of longtime General Wayne Middle School librarian Elizabeth “Betty” Miller, 99, was announced at the meeting. After graduating from Temple in 1935, Miller taught physical education and history before earning a master’s degree in library science in 1958, when she began her tenure as librarian that lasted until her retirement in 1983.